Learning to Live (The Infinite Love Series Book 1)

  Ciera has gone back to staring at the ground, and I almost feel sorry for her.

  Sophia’s mouth drops open in disgust. “Jealous of that…thing? You’re delusional.”

  “And you’re a bitch,” Madalynne says, sipping her drink.

  Sophia glances at Joe, her eyes pleading with him to do something. “Are you really going to let this happen? It’s your party for God’s sake!”

  “Well…I have to admit, she does have balls walking in here.” Joe rakes his eyes over Ciera once more. “Ciera Nelson…I didn’t even recognize you at first.”

  I don’t know what has gotten into me. It could be the buzz that I am feeling, or it could be because I’m bored, but I join the group in the kitchen.

  Sophia watches me closely. “Topher! Do something.”

  “What’s going on?” I ask in a clueless voice as I help myself to yet another shot of Tequila.

  “Are you blind?” she shrieks. “Someone let a rat inside!” She is pointing at Ciera.

  Ciera begins to make a few quick strides toward the living room, when I notice Madalynne grab her arm. “Remember what I said earlier?”

  Ciera tips her head up, and her eyes meet Madalynne’s as she nods. Her cheeks are red, and she appears to be on the verge of tears.

  “Don’t let them win,” Madalynne whispers so quietly, I have to strain to hear it.

  I have no idea when this friendship started or how it even evolved, but it’s intriguing nonetheless.

  Ciera suddenly holds her head up high and stares directly into each one of our eyes, before stopping on Sophia. “I guess I have you and your minion to thank for my awesome new haircut. Cheers.” She raises her glass, and takes a long drink.

  Sophia looks like she’s just been punched in the gut, and I wonder what Ciera is talking about.

  Madalynne’s eyes sparkle, and she breaks out into a wide grin. She throws her arm around Ciera’s shoulder. “See? There’s hope for you yet.”

  And then Madalynne and Ciera make their way out to the back porch, Parker in tow.

  Sophia and Joe watch with open mouths, flabbergasted.

  A smile plays upon my lips, but I shake it off before either of them see it.

  “Can you believe that?” Sophia asks Joe, and then stares at me.

  “What was she talking about?” I question my girlfriend.

  Sophia’s gaze lowers. “Alyssa spit gum in her hair earlier at school.”

  I’ve never had a problem with what Joe or anyone else for that matter have done to the girl—but that just seems low. “Seriously?”

  She nods amidst Joe’s hearty laugh. “What? She deserves it. She’s disgusting.”

  I pour myself another shot, although I know I’m playing with fire. “And how do you figure that?”

  Sophia glares at me, her green eyes turning black.

  The alcohol is beginning to affect my actions and decisions now. I am starting to lose my inhibitions.

  “You’re a bitch, Sophia. Madalynne is right.”

  Her mouth drops open in surprise. “What?”

  I take my shot and slam the glass on the countertop. “You heard me. By the way, I know you two are fucking. I’ve known for quite some time now.”

  Both of their eyes widen and they stare at one another with a deer-in-the-headlights look.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about, man,” Joe says defensively, taking a step toward me.

  “Yeah…you’re drunk,” Sophia chimes in, but her voice is shaky.

  “Look, I don’t blame you,” I address Joe. “She’s hot. I get it. Plus, thanks to you, I haven’t had to work so hard to pretend to care anymore.”

  Sophia gasps and Joe clenches his jaw.

  “Honestly, I’ve been over her for a while now. Just didn’t see the right opportunity present itself…until right now. So, enjoy fucking her man, and thanks for taking her off my hands.” I know I’ve overstepped, but I couldn’t care less.

  “You son of a bitch!” Joe growls, pulling back his arm and hitting me square in the face. I fall to the ground from the impact. It hurts like a bitch, but ironically, it makes me feel alive.

  I stumble back up to my feet and notice a hysterical Sophia crying. She is attempting to pull Joe away from me, but he wrestles her off and I feel yet another blow to my face. I’m laughing like a crazy person, but I can’t help it.

  “Help! Help!” I hear Sophia shriek as she runs out to the back porch.

  A few more punches in and I feel Parker’s best friend Dylan peel Joe off of me.

  “Chill out!” Dylan is barking.

  Blood is seeping out my nose, my mouth, and I’m sure I have a nice shiner to go along with it. I spit dark red blood onto the kitchen tile as I feel hands helping me stand. I look and realize it is Madalynne and Ciera.

  “Get him out of here!” Dylan shouts.

  Pretty soon I am being pulled into the basement bathroom.

  “Stay here, I’ll be right back,” Madalynne says and then she exits the room, leaving Ciera and me alone.

  I can sense how uncomfortable Ciera is and how tense her body is. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

  She looks at my face, a pained expression taking over hers. “I know that.”

  “How could you possibly know that? You don’t know anything about me,” I bite. I don’t mean it to come off so harsh, but I chuck it up to the alcohol.

  She winces from my tone and inches away from me. “I know your name is Topher Carlson. We’ve been in the same classes since grade school. You’re on the football team and a jock. You’ve been dating Sophia for quite some time and you’re the power couple of our school. I also know Joe and Sophia have been sneaking around behind your back…”

  I meet her eyes as mine go cold. How in the hell does she know so much about me?

  “Just because I don’t look you in the eyes or talk to you doesn’t mean I can’t observe things. I’m not blind, and I’m definitely not stupid.”

  I swallow as her words hit me. If Ciera knows about Joe and Sophia, I can only imagine what the rest of the school must think. They must think I’m a wuss. A coward for not leaving her sooner.

  “Why are you even here?” I ask.

  Hurt passes across her eyes but only for a moment. And then it’s gone and her look is hard. “Madalynne is my friend and she invited me.”

  I choke on a laugh. “Madalynne is your friend? Since when? Today? I have a news flash for you, kid, she’s only being nice to you because she feels sorry for you. That’s all there is to it. People like us…don’t mingle with people like you.”

  She swallows and I notice the sparkle in her blue eyes dim. Something inside of me tells me to apologize…but I can’t.

  Madalynne returns with a bowl of water, a washrag and a bag of frozen peas. “This is all I could find.”

  She kneels down next to me, applying the washrag to my wounds.

  “I think I’m going to go,” Ciera says in a small voice.

  Madalynne spins around. “What? No. Let me clean him up, and I can take you home.”

  Ciera shakes her head. “No, it’s okay. I’m just going to call my mom to pick me up.”

  Madalynne nods slowly. “Okay. I’m really sorry about everything. I honestly didn’t know they were going to react like they did.”

  Ciera shrugs. “It’s okay. Thank you for everything today.”

  Madalynne stands up and hugs her. “That’s what friends are for.”

  Ciera shoots me a quick glance and then nods her head lightly. “Yeah…”

  I have an urge to say something to her before she leaves, but she is gone before my mind can register a thought.

  Chapter Eight

  Ciera

  I made a haste decision by leaving on foot. I just couldn’t stand to be around those people or continue to have all their eyes on me. Especially him. When he told me that Madalynne was just being nice to me because she felt sorry for me, I realized he’s probably right. I don’t want to be any
one’s charity case. Today has been the most conflicting day in the history of days…as far as my feelings go. How can the best day of my life also qualify as one of my worst?

  I don’t know what I really thought would transpire by me attending one of the A-Team’s parties. I don’t belong there, they made it obviously clear, and I knew it to begin with. I’m embarrassed I let Madalynne talk me into it. I can only imagine everything they are saying behind my back. Soon it won’t matter, but today it hurts.

  I look around the empty road I am walking on and over the trees. I have miles upon miles to go. With any luck, I will make it home by morning. I’m not exactly in the best shape and already within less than a couple of miles, I can feel blisters beginning to form on the bottom of my feet. This would be one of those times a cell phone would come in handy. Although, I don’t know who I would call if I had the chance.

  A few silent tears trickle down my face as I continue down the windy road. I hear a loud car coming up from behind me, so I scoot over to the side of the road to be safe. It drives past me, and as it does, I make my way back to the middle of the lane. I notice the car begin to slow down less than ten feet ahead. My heart begins to race as it is well after eleven, and quite dark outside. I stop walking abruptly when I notice the car stop, its red brake lights shining.

  I glance around at my dark surroundings, looking for anything I can use as a weapon. I see a thick stick lying on the ground, and I swiftly fetch it, holding it in front of me, protectively. I watch as someone exits the driver’s side door, and begins walking toward me.

  Turn around and walk the opposite way.

  I know I should be listening to my inner voice, but my feet feel planted and frozen in place. I feel as if I can’t move an inch, which only increases my heartbeat.

  The dark figure makes their way toward me, and I catch a glimpse of his face under the moonlight.

  Topher Carlson?

  “Ciera?” I hear him speak my name. I’m surprised he even knows my name.

  He takes a few more steps forward, closing the distance between us.

  “What are you doing out here?” he asks, his eyebrow raising.

  “Walking home,” I reply, meeting his stare. I will never be able to repay the favor Madalynne did for me when she helped me in the bathroom. It is an empowering feeling to lock eyes with someone.

  “Joe was right…you have some balls.”

  I choke on my surprise. “Excuse me?”

  He motions with his hands toward the dark sky. “It’s not exactly the safest thing to be walking home this late at night.”

  I stare back at him with a blank expression. Obviously I am aware of this—but he is the exact reason I left the party. Okay, maybe not the only reason, but definitely the deciding factor why.

  “Come on.” He motions with his hand toward his car. “I’ll give you a ride.”

  It’s the second time in less than five minutes that I choke on my surprise. He can’t be serious.

  We’re lucky the street we are on is so high up in the hills, his car was the first one I saw in thirty minutes.

  “Are you coming or not?” he asks, growing impatient.

  I look from him to his expensive car, and then back again. “I’m fine.”

  He looks as if I just told him someone died. Obviously he’s not used to being turned down.

  “Don’t be stupid,” he presses. “It’s going to take you hours to make it home.”

  “How do you know?” I reply sharply. “For all you know, I live a couple of blocks away.”

  He shakes his head dismissively. “No you don’t. I know basically everyone who lives up in this area. I’m going to guess you live on the north side of town.”

  His guess is spot on. I swallow, trying to digest the fact that he suddenly seems to know more about me than I’d like him to.

  “You’re really going to stand here until I hop in, aren’t you?” I ask.

  He nods slightly. “Yeah, basically.”

  I sigh loudly, dropping the stick I’ve been clenching onto for dear life. “Fine.” I follow him back to the car and climb in beside him, closing the door.

  The car is even nicer on the inside than it is on the outside. I’m not great with cars, but I’m pretty sure Porsche means money. I saw the logo on the back before I climbed in.

  We drive in silence through town until Topher decides to speak. “So, I was wrong about Madalynne.”

  I turn my head so I am looking at him. “What do you mean?”

  He sighs, rubbing his hand over the stubble on his chin. “I mean, maybe she wasn’t only being nice to you because she felt sorry for you. Maybe she actually likes you as a person.”

  My heart dips into my stomach. Butterflies attack my insides.

  “What makes you say that?”

  He shifts his teal eyes to meet mine. “Because of how disappointed she was after you took off. How worried she was.”

  Madalynne was worried about me?

  “She said she didn’t know your number, so she couldn’t text you to make sure you made it home alright.”

  “I don’t have a cell phone,” I mumble.

  “What?” he exclaims loudly. “You’re joking, right?”

  I wish.

  My cheeks instantly begin burning up as I shake my head no.

  “Who doesn’t have a cell phone in this day and age?” He doesn’t seem to want to let it go.

  I shrug.

  I can feel his eyes on me, examining my every move. It sends goose bumps throughout my entire body.

  We cross the border to the north side of town, and he looks at me as if he is awaiting further instruction. “I live right next to Chemeketa,” I say, attempting to change the subject.

  He nods as if he understands. I wonder what he will think when he drives into the apartment complex. It’s definitely not the Ritz, and not exactly located in the safest of areas. But it’s cheap, which is all we can afford right now.

  “So, how long have you known about my girlfriend and best friend?” he asks.

  I don’t know why it matters to him. My opinion has never mattered before. I end up humoring him anyway. “A few months. I saw them sneaking out of a utility closet together.”

  He nods, his lips in a straight line. “I’ve known for a while. I don’t know why I never said anything until now.”

  I shrug, unsure of how he wants me to respond.

  I’m surprised we have been carrying a conversation for as long as we have without a lull. He pulls into my apartment complex, and I sneak glances his way. I can tell he is uncomfortable.

  “It’s right up there.” I point with my finger. He pulls up right in front and stops. “Thanks,” I say quickly as I unbuckle the seatbelt and begin to climb out.